Islamabad announces reward for Taliban leaders 'dead or alive'

Pakistani authorities have promised rewards worth five million dollars for information leading to the capture of a number of senior Taliban officials. Pakistan on Monday offered rewards worth five million dollars for information leading to the capture, dead or alive, of Tehreek-e-Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud and 18 other lieutenants. The rewards were offered in a black and white government advertisement on the front page of The News daily and flashed on Pakistani television channels overnight. "Anyone who captures these people dead or alive or provides concrete information, the government will award them a cash reward," it said. "The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) terrorists are daily involved in deadly activities and because of their activities innocent Muslims are going to the valley of death," it added. The largest rewards, of 50 million Pakistan rupees (600,240 dollars), were offered for TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud, senior leader Wali ur-Rehman Mehsud and Qari Hussain Mehsud, once described as a master trainer of suicide bombers. Eleven other commanders had rewards of 20 million rupees and rewards of 10 million rupees were on offer for five others.